“People do not despise a thief just because he commits thievery to fill his soul when he is hungry,” we are reminded. Even so, “when found, he will make it good with seven times as much; all the valuables of his house he will give.” (Proverbs 6:30, 31) In ancient Israel, a thief was required to make payment even if it took all he had.* How much more worthy of punishment would be an adulterer, who has no excuse for what he has done!

According to the Mosaic Law, a thief was required to pay back double, fourfold, or fivefold. (Exodus 22:1-4) The term “seven times” likely denotes a full measure of penalty, which could be many times more than what he stole.